Traffic Fatalities Increased by Six Percent from 2015 to 2016

More than 40,000 people lost their lives in traffic accidents last year, a six percent increase compared to 2015, according to estimates from the National Safety Council (NSC).

The total number of motor vehicle deaths last year was also 14 percent higher than the total number in 2014, which is the largest two-year increase in more than 50 years.

Traffic fatalities have been increasing since 2014, when they reached the lowest level in 10 years. Deaths jumped seven percent from 2014 to 2015.

NSC estimates on traffic deaths are always slightly higher than the numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That is because the NSC counts deaths that occur in parking lots and driveways and those occurring within a year of an accident, not just those that occur on public roadways.

NSC officials believe speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving could all be contributing factors to the increase in fatalities. However, they say it is too early to determine specific reasons for the increase.

One factor could be that Americans are logging more miles on the road. However, the three-percent increase in miles driven is much lower than the increase in deaths.

Teenage drivers have the highest risk of being involved in a fatal traffic accident. Teenagers are involved in accidents three times more often than drivers who are 20 years old or older, according to NHTSA data.

NHTSA research has also found that 10 percent of drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 who died in car crashes were engaged in distracted driving.

If you lost a loved one in a traffic accident, you need legal representation to obtain compensation to help you and your family move forward.

Contact D'Amico & Pettinicchi's auto accident lawyers today to find out if you have a valid claim. We do not charge attorneys’ fees unless there is a favorable resolution of your claim.